Minimum requirements for clearing bikes in Vancouver port?

[Bobduro]

Our two bikes are currently being shipped to Vancouver from KL, hopefully arriving on the 21st May.

Our agent in Kuala Lumpur wants the contact details of whoever we are going to use in Vancouver to clear the bikes so they can pass on the relevant info. We want to get the bikes cleared as cheaply as possible and had intended to do it all ourselves – this was fine last time in Bangkok when we simply uncrated the bikes in the cargo terminal, put the wheels back on and rode straight out. However, it sounds like this might not be possible in Vancouver (health and safety means you have to get the crates delivered to another location first?)

Any info or advice people might have from their own experience (including a recommended freight forwarder in Vancouver if that’s what’s required) would be gratefully received.

thanks in advance!....

[fredsuleman]

I am not sure of what difficulties you might encounter on arriving at Vancouver airport. However, the cargo area is close to the passenger terminal and easy to navigate and customs office is close by.

We are dealing with WorldCargo as our shipper out of Vancouver. Perhaps they could be your contact if you need one. So far dealing with them has been straightforward.

WorldCargo
5200 Miller Road, Unit 112 (at the airport)
604-232-0204
www.goworldcargo.com

Be aware that the weekend of May 21 is a holiday weekend. Monday is the holiday. This may delay being able pick up your bikes

[Guillaume]

make 100% sure that the bike are free of any soil. Soil importation is forbidden and if your bikes are dirty they could refuse entry.

They might want to inspect the bike so if you do crates it could be a good idea to make the top easily removable (and instructions saying so) and load the bikes at the door of the container.

I suggest you contact container terminals in Vancouver and ask them directly if it's possbile to uncrate on the terminal. My guess is they won't allow it and you would have to use a bonded warehouse in the region.

I've seen a lot of people having lot s of trouble and ending up paying way more because they did not know. But then again I have also seen people with brokers having trouble. But less likely with a broker.

Neverthless you can do it yourself but makes sure that it's clean and don't wait for people to call you up, you have to keep track of everything that's happening with your stuff.

Good luck !